I will make you fishers of men

November 30, 2018 6:00 am

“As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, ‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’” (
MT 4: 18-19)

Our Lord starts where we are and moves us where we should be when we allow Him to do it. He knows better than we do.

“Come after me, says the Lord, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Stand erect and raise your heads

November 29, 2018 6:00 am

“But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” (LK 21: 28)

For those who believe, who trust God and who are His beloved children, all these signs, so terrifying for others, are messages “because your redemption is at hand.” Our Lord came to offer His life for us and to redeem us; we love Him and we put our future in His hands.

“Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” (Gospel Acclamation)

I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking

November 28, 2018 6:00 am

“Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.” (LK 21: 14-15)

Our Lord takes care of us in every part of our lives. When we are attacked and persecuted because of being faithful to Him, we can expect His support: “you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.”

“Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Gospel Acclamation)

See that you not be deceived

November 27, 2018 6:00 am

“Then they asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?’ He answered, ‘See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them!’” (LK 21: 7-8)

Everybody would like to know “when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?”, but God decided that we do not need this information. It is enough for us when we follow Him and when we listen to Him and stay close to Him. He expects from us that we will “remain faithful.”

“Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Gospel Acclamaiton)

Follow the Lamb wherever he goes

November 26, 2018 6:00 am

“These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They have been ransomed as the first fruits of the human race for God and the Lamb.” (RV 14: 4)

It is also our goal: “follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” It means for us to read the daily readings, to spend some time meditating on His words and to implement His teaching in our daily lives; firstly to be who we are and secondly to do what is important for our identity.

“Stay awake! For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.” (Gospel Acclamation)

To him who loves us

November 25, 2018 6:00 am

“Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.” (RV 1: 5-6)

This is the essence of the Bible, the most important message given us from Our Lord: we are loved; we are “freed from our sins by his blood,” and we are “priests for His God and Father.” Through our lives we can answer to His love.

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!” (Gospel Acclamation)

the dead will rise

November 24, 2018 6:00 am

“They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” (LK 20: 36-38)

November, with the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), is the month when we remember, in a very special way, our departed relatives and friends. But also November is the month when we prepare for the end of the Liturgical year, and God’s word reminds us about the end of our lives. The main message which comes from the liturgy is: we “are children of God,” and we will rise, because Our Lord “is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Hanging on his words

November 23, 2018 6:00 am

“And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.” (LK 19: 47-48)

Our Lord was teaching every day in the temple area, and “all the people were hanging on his words.” Today, we can be in our homes, on our trips or coming back home from work, and we can be “hanging on his words.” This is not about places, like “the temple area,” it is about Him and our relationship with Him.

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Do not weep

November 22, 2018 6:00 am

“Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.” (RV 5: 5)

In difficult moments we need to remember that we are not alone; our situation is never lost or hopeless because the victory of Our Lord is sealed: “The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed.” In every circumstances we need to put our hope in Him.

“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Gospel Acclamation)

Engage in trade with these until I return

November 21, 2018 6:00 am

“A nobleman went off to a distant country to obtain the kingship for himself and then to return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten gold coins and told them, ‘Engage in trade with these until I return.’” (LK 19: 12-13)

This is also about us; Our God gave us talents and told us: “Engage in trade with these until I return.” We are responsible for what we received, like our vocation to be a husband or to be a wife. We can get “engage in” and flourish it, or we can “keep it stored away.” When we protect our relationship, when we grow together, and when we are engaged, we cooperate with God’s will.

“I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.” (Gospel Acclamation)